Got Soul Choir in Edinburgh, Scotland, sang a version of Lauryn Hill’s 1998 hit “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and it lacked the “soul” mentioned in the eponymous group. Pushing Black went to Instagram to post a clip of the rendition, which was performed in December 2014 at the Soul Celebration Concert in Edinburgh. After the clip resurfaced, viewers were horrified at the soulless interpretation of one of Hill’s most beloved tracks.
In the clip, one of the soloists, who appears to be Got Soul Choir’s founder and creative director Maryam Ghaffari, is shown tackling the song’s first verse. She struggled through the quick bars as the choir provided background vocals.
The second soloist, who appears to be choir director Emilie Lassus Boyd, takes on the song’s second verse. She does slightly better than Ghaffari, as the clip continues with the choir’s bizarre ending.
“That thing, that thing, that thing,” they sang.
Viewers were shocked at the rendition, and weren’t afraid to express their horror in the comments.
“Seasoned with fresh clear water,” one viewer wrote.
“HORRIBLE!!!! WHAT LYRICS SHE SPITTIN CUZ YOU CANT EVEN MAKE OUT WTF SHE SAYING SMH. SHE DONT EVEN KNOW THE LYRICS WOW,” another particularly enraged viewer added.
One viewer called for the choir’s immediate incarceration.
“The whole choir need arrested,” they commented.
And another wished Instagram had a “hate” button.
“No… NO… NO… I will not “like” this… Where’s the “HATE” Button!!!” they wrote.
Performing some of the greatest soul hits of the 20th century by musicians including Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Sister Sledge, Chaka Khan and more, Got Soul Choir aims to “bring people together who want to have fun, make new friends, let their hair down, have a right good belly laugh AND sing their heart out!”
They encourage singers who “wanna move, wanna shake and raise the roof” to join the group.
